The Church Secretary and Pastor will be away and the church office will be closed

from December 25th through January 1st. Members may contact their deacon

with any pastoral care needs or Pastor Joel by email if necessary. 

CALENDAR OF CHURCH EVENTS/ACTIVITIES

Saturday, December 21

9:00 am  Cantata Dress Rehearsal – Sanctuary

Sunday, December 22

9:00 am  Sunday School

10:30 am  Worship Service with Christmas Cantata – Sanctuary

Tuesday, December 24 – Christmas Eve

6:30 pm   Pre-Service Music – Sanctuary

7:00 pm   Christmas Eve Candlelight Service – Sanctuary

           Wednesday, December 25 – Christmas Day

Church Office Closed

Saturday, December 28

                                10:00 am  Food Pantry Open 10:00 am to 12:00 pm                     

Sunday, December 29

9:00 am  Sunday School

10:30 am  Worship Service – Sanctuary

Church office will be closed from December 25th through January 1st.

Click on this button to view the full calendar

Additions and updates for prayer list or calendar of events are welcome by contacting the church office.

Special note for all Ministry Teams: Please notify the church office with any upcoming meetings or events for your team so we can add these dates to the calendar.

In addition to this prayer request list contained within each Friday's e-newsletter, we also have a "prayer chain" email list. We occasionally send immediate prayer requests to those who have opted in to receive the prayer chain and are committed to praying for each concern as they come. If you would like to be added to the prayer chain list, please notify the church office by email at secretary@yorkfirst.org or by phone (717) 755-0307. If you have a prayer request and desire it to be sent to this group, feel free to contact the church office anytime. Thank you!

Sunday School News

Children's Sunday School Classes

9:00 AM in Rooms 151, 152, and 153. Children grades PreK (age 4) and up will have class lessons. Children ages 3-4 and younger are welcome to attend nursery care.

Youth Sunday School Class

9:00 AM in Room 155. Teacher Dave Witkovsky. This class is for youth in grades 7-12.

The class is studying a series on Women of the Bible.

Vine and Branches Sunday School Class

9:00 AM in Room 154. Teacher Joel Gibbel. The class is following the "Guide for Biblical Studies" curriculum, this season's series entitled "A King Forever and Ever."

Lamplighters Sunday School Class

9:00 AM in Room 145. Teachers Pat Carey and Deb Klinedinst. This Sunday, we will continue an Advent curriculum "Down to Earth" by Mike Slaughter.



Homebuilders Class

Mondays - 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM by conference call. To join, contact Mike Martin at

717-840-4184 or Caretaker@TwinBrookFarm.com and leave a phone number. The class studies lessons from the "Guide for Biblical Studies" curriculum.  

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER



Sunday, December 22 - Christmas Cantata within Worship

Tuesday, December 24 - Christmas Eve Candlelight Service 7 PM (Music 6:30)

January 11 - Youth Retreat, Lancaster COB

January 24 - 26 - Camp Eder Winter Camp 2025

OUR DAILY BREAD/SOUP KITCHEN - Friday, January 11, 2025

Sign up by calling Sandi Bowser at 717-825-7203 to make a casserole for Our Daily Bread/Soup Kitchen on Friday, January 11, 2025 (10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.)

PLEASE contact Sandi to add your name and number of casseroles, so we can let

Our Daily Bread/Soup Kitchen know how many casseroles to expect.

The pans are located in the church lounge. Thank you! 

Winter Camp

2025

January 24th-26th

For Grades 1-12 &

Shining Stars Campers

Pack your snow suit and strap your sled to the car because winter camp 2025 is right around the corner.

Register for a weekend

full of great food, camp games, new and old

friends, and a closer relationship with God. 



To register go to: www.campeder.org/winter-camp

Denominational news and information is always available by visiting brethren.org

Read news updates by clicking the link below

You may also subscribe to receive Newsline via email if you wish

Online Giving is safe, easy, and convenient. Sign up by going to our church website at: www.yorkfirst.org and click on the Online Giving Link or go directly to the Online Giving website at: http://www.osvhub.com/york-first/funds.

For assistance setting up your account,

call Donor Support at:  800-348-2886 – Option 2 – Online Giving Questions? Contact Sheryl Leaman - Thank you for your support!

NOTE: Online giving can be used for regular weekly or monthly offerings, special offerings, and capital campaign contributions, as well as many other specific outreach ministries that we sponsor.

2024 OFFERING ENVELOPES

 Are available for pickup on the counter in the gathering area.

PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:

1. Some envelope numbers have changed for 2025.

2. If you are using Online Giving, your envelope number is in the 200 range, and you will not receive a box of envelopes. See the listing located with the boxes of envelopes.

3. TO ASSURE CORRECT RECORDING OF YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS:

DO NOT use your old (2024) envelopes after DECEMBER 31, 2024.

DO NOT use your new (2025) envelopes before JANUARY 1, 2025.

4. If you would like to receive envelopes, please inform the church secretary and she will see that they are provided. Thank you!

Thank you for all the expressions of love and care that have come to me during my recovery. Helen Stoner        

LOOK WHO'S

CELEBRATING

THIS MONTH

07  Greg Minnich

09  Jeffrey Yingling   

11  Nathan Beuschlein

14  Beth Drawbaugh

14  Clarence Sauder

15  Ron Horner

15  Steven Fitzkee

16  Cathy McCracken

16  Tanner Ferro

If your birthday is in JANUARY

and is not on the list below or is listed

incorrectly, please contact the church office.

18  Melanie Schaefer

19  Luke Miller   

20  Spencer Ginder

20  Dana Stump

23  Danielle Gibbel

23  Beth Anne Bahn

25  Jeffrey Miller

25  Valerie Sauder

“Check out” these books that are new to The First Church Library! Directions for

borrowing a book can be found on the countertop to the right after entering

through the library door.

We kindly ask that you take a maximum of two (2) books at one time and return at least one (1) book before selecting a new one.



Click on button to "Check out" these new books that are available in The First Church Library!

Beginning in January 2025, Patricia Carey will be the Witness Team appointment for the Cash for Causes program. Please see Patricia before or after worship to purchase your Giant or Weis gift cards.

Since 2011 our Witness Team has sponsored the Cash for Causes program by selling Giant & Weis gift cards. The church receives 5% of sales to support various ministries. For 2024 the gift card sales will support The Lehman Center (Children’s Aid Society), New Community Project, and Carlisle Truck Stop Ministry. You may purchase the cards in amounts of $100, $50, $25, or $10. The cards make great gifts, especially at holidays. Consider donating cards to the Food Pantry or using them yourself any time you shop at Giant or Weis.

LAST WEEK IN WORSHIP

If you need to reach the pastor outside of office hours, his mobile number is

(717) 271-4888. You can also email him at pastor@yorkfirst.org. Note that laws prevent hospitals from contacting a pastor without your permission when you are admitted, so you will need to contact the church if you desire a visit or to request prayer.